The Surrendered Life

Do you ever look at your life and wonder how it got to be what it is? Maybe you’re not working where you thought you’d work, or doing that thing you knew you’d be doing by now. Or maybe you don’t live where you envisioned yourself living. Maybe you planned for kids, and have none. Or planned for a couple of kids, and have tons.

My life is looking a lot different than I envisioned it would even 5 years ago. I’m not living where I thought I would be. I’m still working a day job in music, but I didn’t realize I’d still be teaching. I enjoy teaching, I just didn’t see myself doing it long-term.

I’m constantly learning to let go of my carefully conceived dreams of what my life was supposed to look like in favor of what it actually is. I believe God has me where I am, doing what I’m doing for a reason.

I’m learning to embrace the surrendered life.

It’s definitely not easy. And it’s a daily learning process. Some days are easier than others, but I have an amazing example to look to.

Jesus gives us a perfect example of the surrendered life. It’s amazing to me that He knew that He had been sent to earth to eventually give up His life for all mankind, and yet He still willingly allowed Himself to be sacrificed. He walked toward His destiny fully surrendered to the impending ultimate sacrifice.

How do we know He didn’t want to die, but was still willing? Read through His conversation with God in Matthew 26.

“…He became anguished and distressed. He told [the disciples], ‘My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.’

He went on a little farther and bowed his face to the ground, praying, ‘My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’”- Matthew 26:38-40

The passage goes on to say Jesus continued to pray this same prayer twice more before he was ultimately arrested and tried.

It jumped out at me that Jesus struggled with the thought of dying such a cruel death. God-incarnate struggled! Imagine that. Elsewhere the Bible says that “He endured the cross for the joy set before him. “(see Hebrews 12:2) But that doesn’t mean he wanted to die.

His grief crushed him. Sound familiar?

Three times, he asked God to make another way. And three times he reconciled himself to the surrendered life. No matter what.

Do you struggle to live the surrendered life?

Please know that you are not alone. Life can be so tough. You can get weighed down with grief, to the point of feeling crushed by it.

And like Jesus, you can run to the arms of the Father as much as you need, multiple times and tell Him you’re struggling. He can handle your pain. He can also handle your questions.

And then comes the hardest part: walking away and leaving your burden with Him. Living the surrendered life. It’s not easy to do, but it is so very worth it.

What do you need to surrender to your Heavenly Father today? Don’t let another moment pass before you bring your burden, your worry, your distress to Him. Ask Him to help you surrender your life. And walk in the freedom that this sort of living brings.

All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give… (Lyrics from "I Surrender All")